Best wishes to the Class of 2009

To the members of the Class of 2009 on the way to your next adventure: Go for it!

You're on the road to the future, and while you think your vision of it might be set in concrete, know that chances are, the concrete hasn't set yet.

It's also likely to have a few bumps and detours along the way, and that's not always a bad thing.

Look at Mike Judge, a 1985 UCSD physics grad whose detour took him to the world of entertainment as creator of such shows as "Beavis and Butthead" and "Office Space."

Speaking last week to UCSD grads at the all-campus celebration, he said his struggles to find a job utilizing his degree gave him fodder for his writing career.

His message was simple: Find your passion and follow it. It might not be the job your high school aptitude tests said you are best suited for or the one your parents dreamed about for you. But if it's one you love, you and the people around you will be happier for it.

Already, whether you're heading off to college, sticking around for graduate school, searching for a job or have already landed one, the world is a better place for your energy and enthusiasm that has you taking the next steps toward your future.

Take advantage of opportunities - and those road bumps - along the way. Continue to serve your community, even if you don't get extra credit or a paycheck for doing so.